Auto accident injuries can quickly and significantly impact your life. As you seek treatment and manage your physical recovery, you also face costly medical bills, lost wages, and other sources of financial stress. If you’ve been injured in an auto accident in the greater Portland or Vancouver area, you have the right to seek compensation that can go towards paying off these unanticipated costs. The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) released its most recent crash data, highlighting common driver errors that contribute to motor vehicle accidents and injuries. Here’s what you need to know.
Number of Auto Accident Injuries Remains Steady
According to ODOT’s most recent crash data, there were 27,717 non-fatal injury crashes throughout Oregon in 2018. This was a two percent decrease from the prior year, indicating that the number of auto accident-related injuries remains fairly constant. However, there was a 10 percent increase in the number of fatal crashes between 2017 and 2018. The most common collision type for non-fatal crashes was one vehicle rear-ending another.
Most Common Driver Errors Contributing to Auto Collisions
From the available data, ODOT compiled a list of the top ten driver errors associated with auto accidents. Mistakes such as disregarding traffic signals, failing to decrease speed for a slower moving vehicle, making a left turn in front of oncoming traffic, failing to stay in one’s lane, and following another car too closely all made the top ten list. The top driver error was the failure to avoid a stopped or parked vehicle ahead, resulting in a rear-end collision. Other mistakes, such as failing to yield the right of way, running a vehicle off the road, distracted driving, and driving too fast rounded out the top five slots.
How an Oregon and Washington Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help
If you’ve sustained an injury at the hands of a reckless or inattentive driver, seek medical attention right away. Even if you don’t need immediate care, schedule a visit with your doctor to assess the nature and extent of your injuries. The documentation associated with these visits can help to build you a strong personal injury claim later on. As soon as you can, contact a trusted auto accident attorney to discuss your options for obtaining the compensation you need on your road to recovery.
Reach out to the dedicated legal team at Henderson Taylor Law Firm today at (360) 737-1478 to get started with a compassionate Portland and Vancouver auto accident attorney.
